• Question: Why are some people colour-blind?

    Asked by carysjonesds to Charlie, Eoin, Jemma, Julian, Steve on 17 Mar 2011.
    • Photo: Jemma Ransom

      Jemma Ransom answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      I believe colour blindness is genetically linked. It is far more likely for a male to be colour blind than a female, and I think it is related to genes present on the Y chromosome (the chromosome that makes males) that are easily damaged.

    • Photo: Stephen Moss

      Stephen Moss answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Hi Carys

      We see different colours thanks to three different cell types in the eye that detect red, green and blue. There are some quite common mutations in genes that determine these colours, that make it impossible for those affected to distinguish certain colours. Red-Green is the most common.

    • Photo: Julian Rayner

      Julian Rayner answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      There is one scientist here who really knows the answer to that one, so I am not going to even attempt it because I know how stoopid I will look!

      Take it away, Steve!

    • Photo: Charlie Ryan

      Charlie Ryan answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      hi i’m sorry carsjonesds i don’t really know – perhaps stephen can answer this one…?

    • Photo: Eoin Lettice

      Eoin Lettice answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      We’ve all got 3 types of receptors in our eyes which detect different types or wavelengths of light.
      Colour blindess is caused when we are missing some of these receptors or they are not working correctly.
      Eoin

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